Television network ITV1 yesterday announced a package of programmes to inspire the nation to go on a health kick after Christmas.

Television network ITV1 yesterday announced a package of programmes to inspire the nation to go on a health kick after Christmas.

A "major new initiative" to be launched in early 2009 ties in with the government's Change4Life campaign tackling obesity, ITV said.

The initiative, with a working title of The Feelgood Factor, aims to encourage people to shape up and get fit.

The high-profile campaign, will also be supported by some yet-to-be-named celebrities from the channel's most popular shows.

The initiative will be launched with a big entertainment event at the end of January with a follow-up show at the end of March.

The shows will be complemented by an online support campaign at www.itv.com. They will be a mix of popular live music, dance and comedy combined with advice and challenges from celebrities and experts on how to lose weight and get fit in 2009.

The shows will also feature ways of getting friends and family involved by sponsoring weight loss.

Throughout the country everyone can pledge to give a friend pounds in cash for every pound in weight they promise to lose, to be donated to a charity of the slimmer's choosing.

An ITV spokesman said: "What we were trying to do is capture that moment when we all have that resolution after Christmas.

"We're going to be encouraging people to do it with their work friends, people in their street and family."

Another show which is part of ITV1's winter/spring season is Claire Sweeney's Big Fat Diet, in which the actress piles on two stones.

Jo Clinton-Davis, controller of popular factual commissioning said that Sweeney put on weight by taking the attitude that "life's too short to diet".

Ms Clinton-Davis said that Sweeney's cholesterol level was raised and "it took only about six weeks to put on the bulk of the weight".